Does anyone recognize what plant is being used for the wreaths with which
the Olympic medal winners are being crowned? It is certainly not laurel,
which is the traditional source of the branches for this purpose.

The wreath is actually an olive wreath, made of olive leaves, like those used
in the early olympics by the Greeks. The wreaths are proving so popular that
there is talk that they may be used in future Olympics.

The Romans also adopted the custom of bestowing wreaths for meritorious
service, and they used often laurel, which was supposed to be a symbol of the
god Saturn and of the Caesars. The laurel they used is a variety of bay laurel,
the stuff of the kitchen, which was highly prized for medicine and cooking,
even then. The death of a bay tree in a household garden was a portent of great
evil for the home, btw.

(Did not pay to be a lousy gardener in Roman times!)
-=epm=-

In matters of truth and justice,
there is no difference between large and small problems,
for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.
- Albert Einstein